title: Second generation DNA sequencing of the mitogenome of the Chinstrap penguin and comparative genomics of Antarctic penguins.
abstract: The complete mitochondrial genome of the Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) was sequenced and compared with other penguin mitogenomes. The genome is 15,972 bp in length with the number and order of protein coding genes and RNAs being very similar to that of other known penguin mitogenomes. Comparative nucleotide analysis showed the Chinstrap mitogenome shares 94% homology with the mitogenome of its sister species, Pygoscelis adelie (Adélie penguin). Divergence at nonsynonymous nucleotide positions was found to be up to 23 times less than that observed in synonymous positions of protein coding genes, suggesting high selection constraints. The complete mitogenome data will be useful for genetic and evolutionary studies of penguins.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Futures Centre, Griffith University , Nathan Qld , Australia.
authors.forename: Sankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Syamala Gowri
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lingala
authors.forename: Siva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huynen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA
keywords: Adélie penguin; Chinstrap penguin; mitochondrial genome; natural selection; neutral evolution; phylogenetics